Bacterial protein discovered, engineered to better separate rare earth metals
| psu.edu
A newly discovered protein naturally houses an unusual binding site that can differentiate between rare earth elements, and researchers at Penn State have made it even better. Rare earth elements are key components used in everything from modern tech to gasoline production. The protein, called LanD, enriches neodymium and praseodymium over other similar rare earth elements and has the potential to revolutionize industrial mining, researchers said.
US bacterial discovery enhances rare earth element separation
| interestingengineering.com
The protein, called LanD, enriches neodymium and praseodymium over other similar REEs and has the potential to revolutionize industrial mining. This article features Penn State research.
Microplastics increasing in freshwater, directly related to plastic production
| psu.edu
Microplastics have been steadily increasing in freshwater environments for decades and are directly tied to rising global plastic production since the 1950s, according to a new study by an interdisciplinary team of Penn State researchers.
Climate Science Research Experience for Undergraduates wraps with symposium
| psu.edu
Penn State's 2024 U.S. National Science Foundation-funded Climate Science Research Experiences for Undergraduates ended on a successful note, with 16 students presenting posters on their summer research projects.
Nov. 6 EEEPI talk: Do dams and groundwater mitigate economic impact of drought?
| psu.edu
Sheila Olmstead, professor at the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University, will give the talk, “Do Dams and Groundwater Mitigate Drought’s Economic Impact?,” at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 6 , in 157 Hosler Building on the University Park campus.
Morgan Advanced Materials honored as Penn State’s Corporate Partner of the Year
| psu.edu
Penn State has named Morgan Advanced Materials, a global manufacturer of ceramics and carbon materials, as its 2024 Corporate Partner of the Year.
Extreme weather workshop focuses on saving lives worldwide
| psu.edu
A recent workshop on "Improving the Prediction and Communication of Weather/Climate Extremes in Africa and the United States" was a three-day, hybrid event that brought together weather experts and stakeholders from across the globe to address challenges related to weather related hazards and ways to leverage resources to overcome these challenges. The event was led by Gregory Jenkins, professor of meteorology and atmospheric science and geography.
Spotted lanternfly reports in Allegheny County plummeted 90% in 2024 — but they're not done yet
| post-gazette.com
Reports of spotted lanternflies in Allegheny County declined by 90% since last year, but don’t expect the departure of the invasive leafhopper anytime soon. This article mentions Penn State research.
Wildfires are coming to the Southeast. Can landowners mitigate the risk in time?
| yahoo.com
Mention wildfire, and most people picture the Western U.S. And while it’s true that in recent years those states have burned at a frightening rate, fire has long been a destructive force in the East as well. This article mentions Penn State research.
Research team gets grant to study precision chemical thinning of apple blossoms
| psu.edu
One of the most traditionally time-consuming, labor-intensive processes of apple production is blossom thinning, which involves manually pruning flowers so that remaining blooms can reclaim the plant’s resources to grow better fruit. More recently, the process has shifted to broad chemical spraying, which can have harmful environmental impacts. To assist producers and mitigate environmental harm, the USDA has awarded a three-year, $601,125 grant to a team of Penn State researchers for the development of a robotic precision spraying system.
'AI in Health' Grand Rounds to share expertise, build community
| psu.edu
Penn State College of Medicine and Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences are launching a new Grand Rounds topic: "Artificial Intelligence in Health."
Room temperature electrical control could heat up future technology development
| psu.edu
An old physical phenomenon, known as the Hall effect, has revealed some new tricks, according to a team co-led by researchers at Penn State and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They reported their findings, which they said have potential implications for understanding fundamental physics of quantum materials and developing applied technologies such as quantum communication and harvesting energy via radio frequencies, in Nature Materials.
Flooding is the world's most devastating natural disaster, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Millions of Americans live in high-risk flood zones, with the threat amplified by climate change and aging infrastructure. This episode explores how innovative computer modeling and visualizations can help communities plan for future flood risks and develop effective response strategies. Listen to the podcast.
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